The Effects of Nationalism discourse on Cultural and Sociological Changes during the Reign of Pahlavi I

The reign of Reza Shah is one of the most important periods on formation the thought basis of modern Iran for governmental attempting to make modern state, westernization, and especially attempting of Reza Shah himself and his intellectuals to connect Pahlavi regime with ancient Iran. At the same time, Nationalism, one of the modern ideologies, gradually has become one of the major elements of Iran’s modernization in the era of Pahlavi I. Additionally, the consequent changes of constitution revolution which made large insecurity and incompetence in political structure of Iran, brought more affection from nationalism and its consequences such as National State for intellectual and political activists to provide Iran with stability, security and development. In this situation, Reza Khan stepped in power scene and achieved reputation via control of military force and establishment of relative stability and security in country. Then, he attempted to become the Shah of Iran with adopting nationalism, in addition to contracting a stable political legitimacy.